A Christmas Token

Dear Lord, my heart is breaking that I can't even afford to buy my kids in Sunday School a little gift for Christmas. Father, I have chosen You and Your ways again, and I'm going to have to learn to trust You if I'm going to survive and thrive in this renewed life. I know this. Still, how can I teach them by example how to give if I can't give just a small token? They are so small and innocent, just 2 and 3 years old, Father; but then You know all of this. PEACE on Earth You say. You, Whose name is Breath. "Breathe, Gina...breathe Me in. Breathe in peace, breathe out worry. Someone else is taking care of them. I AM." As she concentrated on exhaling the stress, giving it to the One Who could take it, she continued dusting the furniture in their cozy first home.

Gina had known for a while now that it's truly more blessed to give than to receive. First, she had been reckless with her finances, making it impossible to even give her parents and sister anything for Christmas a few years back. The sad and sick feeling that started to make her stomach churn and squeeze out the tears made the bright and beautiful season of joy she had always loved, crushing and shaming. How would she face them with nothing substantial to represent how much she really loved them and her new brother-in-law?

What a sweet surprise it had been that Rick and Stacy had ended up together! When the childhood friends finally admitted romantic feelings for each other during High School, it was still a bit of a puzzle for the analytical Gina to figure out. They were absolute opposites…a perfect, complimentary fit. Stacey was going to need someone like him, almost like herself, her big sister. Now that they were both married, it gave her hope that she and her own husband would weather the storms they had gone through in their shorter marriage.

Just as Gina had brought her own debt to their budget, he had brought his impulsive spending done “for her”. Money was tight, it’s rare when it’s not, and Gina’s husband had “surprised” her with several major decisions without so much as a “how about we…?” For some reason, he was not at all happy that she had recently decided to take their little boy to church and raise him to know the Lord. Oh, he said he believed in God; but he had experienced so much confusion and deep pain in his young, just barely 30-year life. She prayed, “Lord, help him to understand that our son’s eternity is at stake, even if he won’t recognize how he needs You himself.”

As a teenager, she had learned that “without faith it is impossible to please God” and “faith without works is dead”. She had always been a do-er…a classic over-achiever. So when she heard there was a need of teachers for the little ones, she saw a way to try and please God while serving “the least of these”. Now she was stuck between trying to please God and please, or not dis-please her husband by asking for a few dollars for a small treat for them. She would probably hear, “I can’t give you any more until next payday”. It was the same every payday. So Gina kept on doing what her hands found to do, and silently thanked the Lord for her little home, asked Him to keep her Police Officer husband safe and to prepare the best possible future for their son.

When she came to the bookcase, Gina lifted the blue and white Chinese ginger jar to dust beneath it. As she went to set it back down, she wondered what might be inside. She lifted the little round top and there was a five dollar bill. Now she knew for certain that no matter what the future would hold for her and her little family, she would always find enough to share. Her Father and the childrens' is One and the Same. The tears that sprung up in her eyes this time made her feel like a shimmering, twinkle-lit fountain.



 
Psalm 50:10 “For every beast of the forest is Mine,


The cattle on a thousand hills.

11 “I know every bird of the mountains,

And everything that moves in the field is [d]Mine.

12 “If I were hungry I would not tell you,

For the world is Mine, and [e]all it contains.

Lawbreakers and Lovers - Act II or Do What You Want

This post isn't so much about Lovers, but more about Lawbreakers, delight, life goals and personal desires. It's not as much about rules and what God doesn't want, but what He does.

Maybe you don't really care what God wants. Still, I think you'll find it interesting whether you are a believer in Him or wonder such things as, "If there is a God, and He's supposedly good, why does He allow suffering?"

http://www.toughquestionsanswered.org/2009/08/30/what-is-gods-will-for-you/

Here's love from me to you!

A really great day

Hello again!

Today was the day for our free carpet cleaning. Truth be told, it was bartered. Our nice cleaner knows all we've been through in the last few years, so he offered in exchange for us placing flyers around some neighborhoods. That worked in nicely with Michael's job selling roofing.

I order to be out of the house, we went out for Einstein's Bagels this morning with our coupon for 1/2 off. Then we headed over to spend the day with Erin and Brian, our newlyweds.

Aren't they sweet?

We watched a great movie - Charlie St. Cloud, then Erin and I went to pick up burger fixings. Oh, how I've looked forward to a day like this! Spending time with my adult kids is one of my most treasured activities. I am so very thankful that Erin and Brian are settling in, and close by. Those of you with children know that the years fly by all too quickly when they're young. We are truly blessed.

Here's a shot of our nice, clean carpets.

While we were there, Erin made us a CD of their wedding pics, so we came home and enjoyed seeing what fun we all had with SNOW on May 1st, remembering how everyone pitched in and punted to make it a wonderful beginning to their lives together.

Lawbreakers and Lovers

"Your law is my delight" (Psalm 119:77). Every one redeemed of the Lord should now find that their "delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law (they) meditate day and night" (Psalm 1:2).  Most people have standards that keep them from exhibiting behaviors like those seen in the Caylee Anthony case, child-molesting religious figures, Rupert Murdoch, terrorists, etc., etc. But delight in God's law? That's pushing things.

Most of us occasionally feel trapped, anxious, powerless, discontented if not poor, unloved, hopeless, lonely, judged, betrayed, tired, left out, or fearful. More and more people are feeling miserable every day. A lot of people seem as if they're just, well...cursed. We'd much rather experience freedom, peace, power, contentment, generosity, unconditional love, hope, loving and trusting marriages and relationships with family and friends, acceptance, rest, a positive outlook.

What if you knew that following God's law guaranteed you would experience these? That certainly would be delightful! I'm not saying that nothing bad ever happens, and neither does God in His word. If we're completely honest, we must admit that we sometimes bring this negative stuff on ourselves; and what other people choose to do is beyond our control. My experience has been that even in the midst of some pretty negative stuff, we can have peace, acceptance and all the rest to make life more than bearable...abundant, even!

How, you ask, do you get this, Deb?

Here's a little exercise to help ease your summer boredom. Get your Bible or www.biblegateway.com and go to Exodus chapter 20. See if you can find mention of the things listed above. Keep in mind that each negative has a positive opposite. Really think about (meditate on) what's being said. Meditate a little more.

There is a law that supersedes all of these. That's right, it's the law of love. You'll find it in Deuteronomy 6:5 and again, spoken by the One Who fulfilled it in Luke 10:27. If you love the Lord, love Him more deeply. If you've never considered it, I pray that He and His law will become a delight to you.

Sandiago's at the Tram

http://www.sandiapeakrestaurants.com/sandiagos/index.htm

Oh. my. GOODNESS!...and I mean that literally! If you saw my post in Whatcha Need about the http://www.restaurant.com/ certificates, you'll be up to speed. We had a delightful surprise visiting Sandiago's for the first time since moving to Albuquerque almost 20 years ago. We went expecting to use our certificate. The wait was a little long, but my Sandia (Spanish for watermelon) Sunset Margarita made the wait worth it. Several wait staff and the owner continued to check on us and offer little extras like plain chopped tomatoes for Michael who can no longer eat anything spicy. I ordered the Lime Cilantro shrimp and he decided on Baja halibut tacos. Both were absolutely delicious! We especially liked the pesto risotto that came with my shrimp. Eventhough we planned on using the certificate, it seemed that 4 shrimp was a bit sparse, so we asked the owner if that was the usual amount served. He promptly brought us 2 more along with a small dish of the risotto. After a few more bites, Michael got up to go and compliment him on the food and service. While he was up, our waitress came by and told me that he had comped my meal! We will definitely be using our certificate next time, and probably soon. Why don't you come and visit and you can join us?

I am overwhelmed by this. It's not about immigration...immigration is completely beside the point that overwhelms me. What can we do?! I think I'm a caring person, but this just makes me want to...well honestly to get all I can while the gettin's good! Why not? No matter what I do, it will make no difference whatsoever. bleh. Well, if you know me at all, you know that's a bit pessimistic of me. But let's face it, the reality is just...well he did the math for us already!

OK back on to his subject of how to best help people, which I believe really is his subject, and he makes an excellent point. Maybe he does another talk about something called synergy, maybe not. So I'll tell you what. He does mention the idea of "brightening the corner where you are". You've seen it. Maybe at a concert when everyone lights their lighter, maybe at a Christmas Eve service where the flame is passed down the row to each candle. It's not just your little corner that's brightened. I don't know what the people in Washington D.C. or Santa Fe are going to decide from one day to the next; but I crave seeing people flourishing around me. I know you do too. There are only a few followers here, but we can start a glow around each of us that can reach across the street or around the world. Do something. Do anything. In the name of the billions.

My lazy night

I don't choose it...it chooses me. I allow myself one night after work a week to completely veg out or just go to sleep, sometimes as early as 8:00. I've always been one who needs her sleep. A cousin asked me today, "What's your secret for staying so young looking?". Well, I don't know about looking - but for feeling young, to me there's nothing like a good night's sleep. I'm glad to know that it helps weight control, since I need to keep my weight down due to Type 2 diabetes.
It's been a busy week already for me. Besides my job, I've been approached to do some sewing after an online friend saw some of my work. Keeping in contact with friends and family who are in Tornado Alley, one who's about to lose her mother, and one whose husband is in the hospital, and keeping them in my prayers has been another part-time job. It's one that I love because I know that I can trust God with my loved ones. He's proven it to me many, many times. If you're reading this and you haven't started following me yet, I hope that you will. God has alot in store for you, it's always exciting, and I'd love to go on your journey with you.
Sweet dreams in the Father's arms.